Con Edison Offers Green Alternative

Nowadays, it seems that almost every company is offering a green alternative to consumers, or at least says that they are enviro-friendly.  Con Edison started the Solutions branch of their company well over four years ago and has recently expanded their network to include consumer homes. 

Places like New York offer an option to choose either entirely wind power electricity or a hybrid between wind and hydroelectric power.  Having these choices gives peace of mind to consumers, but ultimately is more expensive than just purchasing regular power from the company.  The hybrid costs about one cent more per kilowatt than normal power, while all wind is about two and a half cents more per kilowatt.  This leads to about an increase in the electricity bill ranging from $3.50 to $8.75 per month.

Currently, Con Ed has plans to put underwater turbines in the East River (off of Roosevelt Island) to generate electricity from the tides. Although it’s nice to see large companies such as Con Ed offer these alternatives, the problem still remains that the alternative is more expensive than the non-green option.  For the typical household, switching to green energy may not fit its budget. 

If Con Edison were dedicated to the green movement, they could offer an incentive program, where they could keep the slightly higher prices, but give those that switch a sign up bonus.  Given that there are millions of customers that use Con Ed that probably is not a viable option.  Of course, the problem here is that even with the advent of new technology the initial start up investment for windmills or any sort of renewable energy is high. 

Besides this, the maintenance, demand, zoning issues, and other environmental concerns come into play.  Since most renewable energy is dependent on the environment, many people also suspect that the energy is not reliable.  Others complain that machines such as turbines and windmills may be detrimental to wildlife.  Birds could fly into the windmills and turbines in rivers could affect the water ecosystem.  More important than all these problems is a concern for aesthetics.  Most people believe in renewable energy, but they don’t want a bunch of windmills built in their neighborhood (lowers property values).  These disadvantages of green energy help to bump up the price of green power.

In 2000, Con Ed endorsed the Ceres (the Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies) principles, which include:  Reduction and disposal of waste, reduction or elimination of unsafe and hazardous products and services, and informing the public about company conditions that may pose a threat to public health, safety, or the environment.  Con Ed has followed through with many of these principles, especially in their steam operations (SO).  Recently the SO received the U.S. Coast Guard's William K. Benkert Trophy, the highest award for Excellence in Marine Environmental Protection.  The steam operation allows for homes and businesses to be heated and cooled through Con Ed’s plants, rather than having homes and companies install space-heating boilers, and decreases the number of fuel trucks on the road. 

Over the course of several years, Con Ed has reduced opacity (if opacity is high, smoke is dense) of their factorys’ smokestack emissions by 65% by using clean-burning natural gas to produce steam, and have recently installed new burners to lower nitrogen oxide emissions.  Recently, in conjunction with NASA, Con Ed also has developed sensors that can detect and analyze hazardous materials in the field such as PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl compounds) or PFT (perfluorocarbon tracers).  Both of these materials are toxic and with the new technology Con Ed can quickly find the materials and clean up the waste before it affects the environment any further. 

Con Ed has also taken steps to

1.      Make their facilities more fuel-efficient and

2.      Advertise ways that regular consumers can be eco-friendly, such as:

·        Turning off lights

·        keeping air conditioners at a set temperature

·        turning off air conditioners at night

·        making sure homes are well insulated

In these ads they emphasize both the benefits to the environment as well as to people’s bank accounts.  As with most companies, Con Ed also offers a paperless billing option allowing people to reduce paper waste.  For several years now, Con Ed also sponsors Earth Week in New York City to increase environmental awareness.

Despite all the good that Con Ed claims they have done, they also do not abide by their environmental principles.  In Gowanus, a Con Ed plant is not in compliance with the regulations, and has dozens of toxic releases.  In contrast to the great work Con Ed is doing with electricity, their gas efficiency program is lagging.  Until recently, there was only an allotted $1.6 million for the natural gas program, in contrast to the $175 million for the electricity.  Natural gas is ultimately cleaner than fuel, however, it still produces greenhouse gases due to inefficient gas burning appliances and poorly insulated homes. 

Currently there is talk about increasing the program to $14 million, although the program has yet to be set in motion.  Several people have also been shocked by stray wires, and one woman in 2004 died from electrocution.  Although Con Ed states that they would do a visual and voltage check, the supervisors of these utility workers have noted that they only do a voltage check.  This could still be problematic, and could still cause shocks to both humans and animals.

Con Ed has taken the first steps toward supplying green alternatives, due in part to more people demanding an energy source that does not pollute, but also because the people involved in the company realize that down the road there won’t be much of an option besides renewable energy.  Con Ed plans to increase the green power coverage and if people choose to switch, there is no hassle as this green power runs off the same power grid as regular Con Ed power.  It’s not a complete overhaul, but for now, it’s good to know that some large corporations are taking some initiative in the green movement, even if it’s just to save face.